{"id":129,"date":"2026-05-22T07:37:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T07:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=129"},"modified":"2026-05-22T07:37:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T07:37:26","slug":"san-diego-mosque-shooter-caleb-vazquezs-family-breaks-silence-on-terror-attack-say-autistic-son-was-brainwashed-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=129","title":{"rendered":"San Diego mosque shooter Caleb Vazquez’s family breaks silence on terror attack, say autistic son was brainwashed online"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Caleb Vazquez, one of two teens responsible for the mass shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, was on the autism spectrum and influenced by hateful rhetoric online, his family described in a heartfelt apology.<\/p>\n

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\u201cOver the last several days, our family has been trying to process the horrific actions carried out
by our son against the Islamic Center San Diego Community,\u201d the 18-year-old\u2019s family said in a statement released by attorney Colin Rudolph.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to begin by acknowledging that nothing we say or do could ever repair the damage his actions have caused. We are completely heartbroken and devastated by what has happened. We condemn these hateful and violent actions entirely,\u201d they continued.<\/p>\n

The family mentioned the three victims, Amin Abdullah, Mansour Kaziha, and Nadir Awad, and thanked them for their bravery in preventing more deaths during Monday\u2019s attack. All three men were laid to rest Thursday in a ceremony in San Diego.<\/p>\n

Vazquez and 17-year-old Cain Clark stormed the mosque, opening fire and killing three Monday before fleeing the scene in a white BMW. The teen terrorists livestreamed their entire attack.<\/p>\n

At the encouragement of Vazquez, Clark, sitting in the driver\u2019s seat of the vehicle, shot Vazquez in the head twice with a pistol, killing him. Clark then turned the weapon on himself.<\/p>\n

The family recognized the attack caused devastating and irreversible pain for the victims, their loved ones and the broader Muslim community, adding that no apology could ever make up for the loss and trauma inflicted by Vazquez.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe reject hatred, extremism, bigotry, and violence in every form. We stand firmly against the ideology and actions that led to this tragedy. These actions do not reflect the values we raised our family with or the beliefs we hold in our hearts,\u201d Vazquez\u2019s family said.<\/p>\n

The Vazquez family added their son\u2019s beliefs and actions are completely at odds with the values they raised him with, emphasizing their family\u2019s diverse background and longstanding belief in acceptance, compassion and respect for people of all cultures and religions.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur son was on the autism spectrum, and it is painfully clear to us now that he struggled not only
with accepting parts of his own identity but also grew to resent them,\u201d they said. <\/p>\n

Vazquez and Clark released a manifesto, obtained by The California Post, before the shooting where they shared hateful imagery and messages \u2014 campaigning for a race war. The weapons they used in the attack were covered in racist messages, including \u201cRace War Now.\u201d<\/p>\n

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They also wore a Black Sun symbol, which is associated with Nazi Germany, square on his chest. Nazi SS commander Heinrich Himmler\u00a0had the symbol inlaid\u00a0into the floor of the Wewelsburg castle.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe this, combined with exposure to hateful rhetoric, extremist content, and propaganda spread across parts of the internet, social media, and other online platforms, contributed to his descent into radicalized ideologies and violent beliefs. While there is no excuse for his actions, we have come to recognize how dangerous online spaces are that normalize hatred,\u201d the statement continued.<\/p>\n

The family said they tried many times to help Vazquez through his \u201cmental instability,\u201d though they admitted, \u201cWe will forever live with the burden of wondering whether there was more we could have done to help prevent this senseless tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs parents, we are grieving in ways we never imagined possible. But our pain does not compare to the suffering of the victims and their families. This moment is not about us. It is about the innocent people whose lives were taken, the survivors whose lives have been forever changed, and a grieving community trying to heal from unimaginable trauma,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can only pray that his actions and words do not inspire or incite further hatred or violence toward any community. They were the actions of an immensely lost, troubled, and misguided soul, and we hope no other family or community ever has to endure this kind of tragedy again,\u201d the statement concluded.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

All three of the victims were laid to rest Thursday in a ceremony where they were buried next to each other. Hundreds of members of the Muslim community mourned the Abdullah, a security guard and father of eight, who police say prevented more deaths, along with Awad and Kazziha.<\/p>\n

The prayer service was held at the Snapdragon Stadium located at the San Diego State University Mission Valley Campus.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree heroes martyred at the Islamic Center of San Diego protecting our children,\u201d message on the Islamic Center website read.<\/p>\n

Mourners prayed and stood together close to the bodies of the men before they were taken to the La Vista Memorial Park in National City where they were laid to rest.<\/p>\n

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Islamic Center of San Diego shooter Caleb Vazquez said their autistic son was brainwashed by hateful rhetoric online in a heartfelt apology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":128,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-metro"],"yoast_head":"\nSan Diego mosque shooter Caleb Vazquez's family breaks silence on terror attack, say autistic son was brainwashed online - Metro Transit Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=129\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"San Diego mosque shooter Caleb Vazquez's family breaks silence on terror attack, say autistic son was brainwashed online - 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